Job 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said:
2 “Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat?
3 Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee.
4 But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God.
5 For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers.
6 Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee.
7 Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills?
8 Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
Hast thou heard God’s counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee?
9 What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not?
10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers.
11 Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this.
12 Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things?
13 as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just?
15 If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight.
16 how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water?
17 Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have seen.
18 what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.
19 to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them.
20 A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.
21 Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.
22 He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side.
23 He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle.
25 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.
26 rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck.
27 Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.
28 he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps.
29 He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth.
30 He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own month.
31 Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price.
32 It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall wither away.
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower.
34 For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes.
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits.
